The two boys spun on their heels to see an old woman. She had stringy white hair, a weathered face, and a strange smile that looked kind but also mocking. But the thing that had the two boys staring at her face was that instead of eyes she had bandages wrapped around her face. Yet even though the old woman could not have possibly seen them her bandaged face stared straight at them. She seemed to have felt there discomfort and a cackle left her throat. “You young ones seem to be puzzled. Yet why have you not answered my question. Why are you so far from home young ones?”
“It’s none of your business you old hag and our mom taught us not to talk to strangers!” Johnathan snapped sticking her tongue out at her.
“I’m sorry of my big brothers words, but our mother did teach us better than to talk to strangers. So we should go bye miss.” Jackie apologised for his brothers rude comment before grabbing his hand and trying to leave the old woman was scaring him.
“I see you have some smarts for dim witted pups.” She chuckled as she turned to depart but ran into a man dropping the bags that she carried onto the ground. Vegetables, clothing, and other items scattered about. The man cursed at her, then stormed off leaving the old lady to fiddle around on the ground and try to find her items.
Johnathan and Jackie watched her struggle for a few seconds before they decided that even though the old woman gave them the creeps that it would be wrong not to help her. They nodded at each other both decided to help. Jackie pulled her to her feet while Johnathan collected all the items.
“Lady are you okay did you get hurt when you feel, don’t worry my big brother is going to get all your things. Here come this way and sit down.” Jackie said sweetly as he led her to a small bench that was near the exit of the town so she could sit down as they waited for Johnathan to finish. A laugh started to start in the old woman’s throat but died just as quickly, so that is why they are out on their own and if they continue that will happen life can be so cruel, she thought bitterly as Johnathan appeared carrying her bags and handing it to her.
“What you two are doing is foolhardy you should turn back didn’t you know a demon is wondering in the area that you are heading,” the old lady chided.
“This is how you thank us; how rude we don’t need lectures.” Johnathan retorted crossing his arms and signaling for Jackie to following him and leave.
“Wait! I must tell you,” she paused and as she spoke again her voice took on an eerie calm drone, “a choice shall be made one that will save some or one that will save none, you must choose carefully for once you decide there will be no turning back.”
“Let’s go Jackie,” Johnathan said quickly as he dragged Jackie away from the old lady visibly shaken by what she had said.
“Johnathan what will we do?” He questioned.
“We will do what we planned from the first place; ignore what that crazy old hag said.” He snapped as he pulled Jackie away with him out of the town.
“Grandma why did you scare them away.” A young boy a little older than Johnathan with dirty brown hair asked.
“Now, now, I was trying to help.”
“What is their future?”
“Do you want a riddle or it straight out?”
“Tell it in a riddle; it is more entertaining to guess.”
“Two young pups walk a lonely path. They reach a cross road one side leads to a simple but happy life; the other leads to honor and strength yet blood will fall like rain, sliding down and staining a tender young face, tragedy like no other will befall, cursed to leave it’s burden behind, wandering aimlessly alone, until finally returning to an empty broken home.” The old lady croaked.
“That’s interesting so which path will he choose?”
“I do not know, I’ll tell you what has happened once it comes to pass.”
~………~
“Big brother I think we should turn back.” Jackie whispered.
“No, we are going to do it lets go father had to have followed this path we just have to go this way and we’ll be about to be with him. Just think about it if a demon is around we will be safer with father than alone so come on.”
“You’re right lead the way big brother.”
They walked on down the path in the woods until they heard it. It was like no sound that they had ever heard it was like a screech and a roar mixed together. Jackie grabbed onto Johnathan’s arm shaking, the purple haired boy put a reassuring hand on the black haired’s shoulder. “Why don’t we go this way.”
Jackie opened his mouth to reply but it was drowned out by a blood curling scream, the sound of shouts and metal started to ring out in the distance where the roar had sounded just before. The wind carried the sounds and a soft smell of iron. That was when the young boys heard it. There fathers voice yelling on the wind. They looked at each other before running into the direction that the voices were coming from. A clearing was right ahead and the two bursted through in to it.
